Swimming: Franklin fails to make 200m backstroke final

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Missy Franklin's Olympics came to a sad end on Thursday after the U.S. golden girl of London 2012 failed to make the women's 200m backstroke final with a time more than five seconds off her world record.

"I'm disappointed not to be able to represent my country tomorrow. I'm glad this is over," the tearful 21-year-old told reporters.

"You know, it's been a really hard year for me and it's going to take some time so that's what I plan to do, spending quality time with my family and getting back in my feet.

"I worked as hard as I could but I fell short. I wish there was an explanation."

Franklin set records on her way to four golds and a bronze medal at her first Games. But for Rio 2016, she qualified in just two individual events -- the 200 meters freestyle and 200 meters backstroke -- at the trials in Omaha.

The world record holder and Olympic champion in 200m backstroke had gone into the semi-finals with only the 11th best time and it got worse.

She was 14th out of the 16 semi-finalists, her time of two minutes, 9.74 seconds, well off the world record 2:04.06 she set in London.

In the 200 meters freestyle, Franklin reached the semi-finals but was then 13th.
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